Dripless purification manifold and cartridge

A water treatment apparatus comprising:

• i) a manifold defining a first flow path from an input conduit for a water treatment system through a first bend to a first manifold opening and a second flow path from an output conduit for the water treatment system through a second bend to a second manifold opening adjacent the first manifold opening,
• the manifold comprising a first valve in the first flow path, the first valve comprising a first valve body, a first O-ring positioned between an inner surface of the first flow path and the first valve body, and a first spring biased to push the first valve body in the direction of the first manifold opening to seal the first flow path, the first valve further comprising a valve stem integrally extending from the first valve body opposite the first spring in the direction of the first manifold opening,
• the manifold further comprising a second valve in the second flow path, the second valve comprising a second valve body, a second O-ring carried by the second valve body, and a second spring biased to push the second valve body and the second O-ring in the direction of the second manifold opening, against an inner surface of the second flow path, to seal the second flow path, the second valve body being positioned between the second bend and the output conduit in the second flow path;
• and
• ii) a water treatment cartridge enclosing and independently supporting a water treatment material, the water treatment cartridge having input and output ports at one end to define a flow path through the water treatment material, wherein the cartridge is configured to releasably engage the manifold to connect the first flow path in the manifold with the input port of the cartridge and connect the second flow path in the manifold with the output port of the cartridge,
• wherein the water treatment cartridge further comprises a projection extending from the end wherein the input port and output port are located and configured to push against the valve stem in the first valve when the cartridge engages the manifold to cause the first valve body to retract from the inner surface of the first flow path and unseal the first flow path.

A water treatment apparatus comprising:

• i) a manifold defining a first flow path from an input conduit for a water treatment system through a first right-angle bend to a first manifold opening and a second flow path from an output conduit for the water treatment system through a second right-angle bend to a second manifold opening adjacent the first manifold opening, the input and output conduits lying in a common plane,
• the manifold comprising a first valve in the first flow path, the first valve comprising a first valve body, a first O-ring positioned between an inner surface of the first flow path and the first valve body, and a first spring biased to push the first valve body in the direction of the first manifold opening to seal the first flow path, the first valve further comprising a valve stem integrally extending from the first valve body opposite the first spring in the direction of the first manifold opening,
• the manifold further comprising a second valve in the second flow path, the second valve comprising a second valve body, a second O-ring carried by the second flow path between the second valve body, and a second spring biased to push the second valve body and the second O-ring in the direction of the second manifold opening, against an inner surface of the second flow path, to seal the second flow path, the second valve body being positioned between the second bend and the output conduit in the second flow path;
• and
• ii) a water treatment cartridge enclosing and independently supporting a water treatment material, the water treatment material including at least activated carbon, the water treatment cartridge having input and output ports at one end to define a flow path through the water treatment material, wherein the cartridge is configured to releasably engage the manifold to connect the first flow path in the manifold with the input port of the cartridge and connect the second flow path in the manifold with the output port of the cartridge,
• wherein the water treatment cartridge further comprises a projection extending from the end wherein the input port and output port are located and configured to push against the valve stem in the first valve when the cartridge engages the manifold to cause the first valve body to retract from the inner surface of the first flow path and unseal the first flow path, and
• wherein the cartridge further comprises an outer housing and an inner member, wherein the flow path passes through the inner member and the inner member engages an interior portion of the housing through a sealed connection including multiple O-rings to connect the flow path through the inner member to the manifold when the cartridge engages the manifold.